18-year-old dog Walkin' Wheels Degenerative Myelopathy or Other Neurological Condition

This is my 18-year-old dog, Tyler, in his Walkin' Wheel brand doggie cart. He was unable to walk and kept collapsing in the days prior to this video. As you can see, the cart has been working FABULOUSLY!!! I have it set up so he still uses his legs. I have done some reading and it is likely that he has Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). My research makes me believe he is part German Shepard after all! That's where he get's the ears!! The shelter was totally off (Terrier/Spaniel??? Wuh???). Here I was thinking he was a Border Collie mix but we just do not have many of them in the NYC/NJ area. Anyway, here ios a link that explains what we have been experiencing over the last few years:

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/caninehealthdogs/a/VVP_degenmyel2.htm

I just wish we knew about this sooner! Intuitively, I have been doing all the right things. We are also now following Dr. Clemmons' protocol for DM care. This link explains his approach:

http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm

I will try to keep this updated so you can watch his progress. My baby's a trooper!!!

Sorry for the shakey video. I was running with him. =)


UPDATE: Tyler eventually lost most of his eye sight and could no longer use the wheel cart. He also started waking up shaking and would be hard to calm down. He usually would shake when he was in pain. We made the difficult decision to euthanize our sweet little boy on Friday, August 20. It was the hardest thing we have ever had to do. Our hearts were in a million pieces. There was no better dog. We miss you so much little buddy! You were the BEST!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Walkin' Wheels
• Degenerative Myelopathy
• Dog
• Wheelcart
• Dr. Clemmons
• Neurological impairments

[iluvmypiggly]

Thank you for your comment. Yes, he was quite lovely indeed. Still miss him like mad. <3

[tmo7734]

Thank you for the video. Tyler was incredibly cute. He was lucky to have YOU. All the Best. TMO (Mountain View, CA)

[iluvmypiggly]

@tmo7734 Aww...thank you so much. There isn't a day goes by that we don't miss him. In fact, watching this video, gosh, makes me just cry. Best dog ever. <3

[mizjules41]

im so sorry...what an amazing lil dog you had!

[iluvmypiggly]

@mizjules41 Thank you so much. Yes, he really was amazing! I miss him every single day.

Best wishes to you. :)

[xxbobdeexx]

Did your vet give you the prescription for Tyler according to Dr.Clemmons outline?

I ask because my vet wants to do more tests and he wants the script to go thru him.

My dog is 15yrs old,,

[iluvmypiggly]

@xxbobdeexx I came across Dr.Clemmons' protocol on my own. I have not received scripts from my vet.

[Parasmunt]

Lovely little fella.

Tiny G Shep was my first thought when i saw him. Very cute. It's cool (but also more devastating when they go on you) to have a dog companion to live so long.

[tmo7734]

@iluvmypiggly know the feeling. We lost our beloved Chocolate Lab about 2 years ago. Some things you never get over. A You Tube video of Bea: search "Bea, the Chocolate Lab"

[Pollyward69]

Ahh bless him-my Manx cat pleb had a cart, after losing use of her back legs-it only bought her a few short months more, but I think it was worth it. I sent the cart to Greece for a little Ginger cat called louis, that is on fb and YouTube with his canine friend thelma-who also uses a cart....

[istep2]

Awesome, I know he loves it.! My dog Coco got a cart when she was 17, she had a cancer mass on her lower spine, caused her to loose use of her back legs. It was her lifeline for over one year. We lost Coco early this summer. We miss her. Good luck and you have given Tyler a second life.t